| |
Woody had been picked up and after making some calls, was now at a dealer’s house. Joey was one of the new breeds of dealers that used the internet to pass on his gear. He used a sophisticated network of apps and self-deleting messages to be contacted on and would use his runners to deliver the gear. Nothing was traceable back to him. He never even handled the merchandise, just did the middleman bit. The money was kept in a lock-up and the only way it was even known he was a dealer was by his close friends who did all the dirty work. With his mobile phone, he could run his little empire and was planning to retire once he had reached his goal of one million.
Woody was now sat in the kitchen, wanting a little more than he would normally ask for.
“Can you get the information or not?”
“Yes, but... you know how it is Woody.” Joey said, as cocky as usual.
Woody was old school when it came to dealing. He did not like this internet and hated the fact that this new breed was gradually taking over. He liked the violence and bully-boy tactics that put them in their place, but this new hidden and unseen way to do business was not to his liking. Many of his clients were now passing over to this new way, for one good reason. They rarely got caught or had to deal with people like Woody. Everything could be done by invisible faces behind a hidden network of names, numbers, and screens. If a deal went bad, no one could be found to wreak revenge on. That was the most annoying part for Woody.
“What do you want?” Woody snapped, getting angrier.
The phone call he had with Grecco an hour ago reminding him of how his neck was on the line.
––––––––
Phone call from Grecco.
“Has Frank been contacted?” Grecco asked.
“Not yet, but I believe he will be soon.”
“Where are you?”
Woody was going to have to lie. He still did not even know what they wanted from Frank.
“Just outside of Tameworth. Am I right in thinking you want...”?
“The kids alive, of course you dummy. If anything happens to them, you will be next. Is that clear?”
“Yes. I was just making sure.”
“I cannot impress enough on you how important this is to me. Do I make myself clear? I will not be messed about like this. Remember, I will be on a plane in less than two days. If those kids are not on that plane with me, you will be...”
“Okay, okay. I am on it. Two days. You will have them with you.”
“Good. I take it you will have the money for the new gear also?”
“Yep. All in hand as we speak.”
“Okay then. Do not contact me until you have them. And Woody. Don’t fuck this up.”
––––––––
Not only had Woody just realised he now had two kids to find that he had no idea who they were or even where to look for them, he had also got to find the money for the lost package of coke that was left in the car that Frank had now disappeared with. If he did not come up trumps, he now thought it would be him on a plane in two days!
“This merchandise you have been off-loading. I am getting a right load of flack for it. If, and I mean this purely on a business level Woody. I might have to use another supplier if it continues.”
“You cheeky little rat bag.”
Woody shot off the chair and now had his hand around Joey’s neck with his gun pointing at this head. Woody ground the end into his forehead.
“Arr. Stop, I was just saying...”
“I know exactly what you were saying.” Woody said, as he pushed him away.
Coughing, and now holding his head. Joey sat back in the chair.
“Sorry.”
“Fuck your sorry you little prick. You think you are so clever don’t you with this shit, don’t you?” Woody said, waving the gun at the computer behind Joey. “You get me the information I want right now or will blow your fucking head off. Does that compute?”
“Yeah, no problem. Let’s just calm it down. I don’t want any trouble man.”
Joey spun round on the chair and started typing into the keyboard, while Woody paced the round the kitchen, trying to calm himself down. He was wound up and getting frustrated. He took a few deep breaths and began to watch Joey. This skinny spotty kid was lucky. On a bad day, Woody may not have been so nice and would most likely would have had to have been pulled him off, if it were not for the fact, he was so desperate to know how to find Frank. This was not one of his better days and the last thing he needed was to deal with this lack of respect, especially from a newcomer to his circle of long-standing dealers. It was only by chance that he was told that this kid was a whiz doing this internet stuff, because Woody still could not understand any of it. But he knew enough to know that everything was on there now and if he could find out a few things about Frank, he might be able to locate him and find out where he has gone.
A few minutes later, Joey turned around.
“Frank Stirling has sold off a lot the last few years.”
“Like what?”
“That big mansion for one. He has bought a small holding out near Cliff New Market. A cottage with a few outbuildings. The agent who sold him it listed it as in need of modernisation.”
“Anything else?”
“Nothing much. Looks like he has been renting flats all over the town for a while.”
“Write that address down, and the next time I come calling, you had better show me some respect or I will knock ten sorts of shit out of you.”
Joey did not reply, just handed the scrape of paper to Woody and was only glad he was leaving.
Outside, Woody gave the address to his right-hand man.
“Get tooled up and a few more of the guys ready. I think Frank could be hiding out there.”
“What if he is not there?”
“Then we are fucked.”
They both walked off towards the stairs that led down to the car park. Time was limited and there was no time to pre-plan anything. If Frank was holed up at this place, then Woody would just have to be ready for him.
––––––––
Liev and Jonesy had just entered the cottage. They had spent ten minutes starting the generator in the outbuilding. The lights had come on inside and the few spotlights that dotted the cottage. It was completely dark outside and apart from the scant lighting, it became even more clear how big a task it was to see if anyone was approaching, because beyond the spotlights, everything seemed the same colour, black! As they walked inside, they could see Sharon blow out the few candles she had lit now that the lights were on. Frank was sat at the large kitchen table, tending to his hand.
“How does it look?” Liev asked.
“Sore.” Is all frank replied as Sharon started putting a bandage over the wound.
“Let me have a look.”
Liev walked over and took Franks hand and looked at it.
“I don’t think it is that bad.”
“Sorry Frank, it is already infected.” Liev said, letting go of it. “If we don’t get that seem too properly it will be like a balloon in a couple of days.”
“I will be okay. We can't just pop to the hospital.”
“It is your hand Frank, and this place you chose. What a shit hole.”
“It was a fixer-upper and cheap. I thought once this was over it would make a great home to bring up...”
“Frank, this place is a nightmare. Not only is it logistically impossible to see where anyone is coming from, there is only one road out of here.”
“I thought it was isolated.”
“How did you buy this place?”
“I don’t follow you.”
“Did you pay cash and register it under a false name?”
“No. I bought it off the estate agent we have been renting flats from.”
“You idiot.”
“I’m sorry, you have lost me.”
Both Sharon and Frank looked at Liev, confused.
“Don’t you know that all this information will be on the internet, where any Tom, Dick or Harry can look it up. Let's say... if they want to find you!” Liev said, sarcastically.
“Oh.”
“You plonker. What weapons did you buy?”
“Over there, in that cupboard. I got them from and old mate. He collects second world war military gear.”
Jonesy went over to the cupboard and looked inside, then dragged out an old metal armoury chest. He dragged it out, then heaved it onto the kitchen table. They all looked on in silence as the chest was opened. Liev and Jonesy nearly burst out laughing.
“Remember these Liev.” Jonesy said, rolling a world war two hand-grenade in his hand.
He tossed it over to Liev who looked at it, then tossed it over to Frank, who missed it and watched as it bounced off the edge of the table and onto the floor. Frank went to get up and run, but Liev told him to sit down.
“Did you actually look at this stuff Frank?”
“Well of course I did.”
“And you never noticed all of it has been decommissioned. It is useless Frank, useless.”
Frank stood up and looked inside the box.
“All off it?”
“All of it Frank. Useless.”
“I paid a lot of money for it.”
“You were ripped off. My bet, is your mate never planned on your need to use this stuff, so offloaded it onto you.”
“The Bastard. He is a good mate or was.”
“What now?” Jonesy asked.
“We need to get out of here. We have no way to see if anyone is coming, and nothing to protect ourselves with.”
“I have some gear left, but it will take two hours to get it.” Jonesy said.
“Good. We might need it. Right then. Sharon. Finish patching Frank up and me and Jonesy will load the car with anything we might need.”
Liev and Jonesy went back outside and over to the outbuilding.
“What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking we need to get some weapons and fast.”
“Why?”
“Look down the driveway.”
“Jonesy looked to where Liev had been looking just as a set of headlights were being turned off.”
“Shit.”
“Can you do anything with those weapons?”
“Not before they get to us Liev.”
“I think I saw an axe inside there. Go see if you can find anything to use. Meet me back in the cottage and turn off all the lights.”
“Won’t that let them know we have spotted them?”
“Yes, but they do not know we are unarmed, and we might be able to surprise them.”
“Where are you going?”
“I am off to play hide-and-seek.”
“Be careful.”
“Me, always.”
Liev ran into the outbuilding and grabbed the axe, then disappeared into the pitch black, down the driveway.
Jonesy, realising there was nothing else he could find, ran back to the cottage.
––––––––
Woody was at the bottom of the lane to Franks place, and seeing the lights go out, conformed he might be here.
“Right then. It looks like they know we are here. If those kids are there, do not shoot them or I will put a bullet into you myself. Got it?”
“Yes Boss.”
“You two go on ahead and see what-is-what and try to be quiet. Frank is a clever Bastard so do not think he will not have put a trap or two in there somewhere. If you can surprise him, try not to kill anyone. All we want is those kids.”
“Tony, you and I will follow after them in two minutes. With any luck they will have sorted anything out by then, and you two dummies. Make sure those kids are there first, before you go shooting Frank. With him dead, it gives me nothing.”
“Yes boss.”
The two men in the back of the car took off up the drive. While Woody and his right-hand man, Tony, waited for the two minutes to elapse.
––––––––
Casey was just about awake while they had been watching a late-night film when Shannon shot up off the bed.
“What is it?”
“My mother is in danger.”
“How do you know that?”
“I can feel it.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“What can I do?”
“I am going to try something.”
“Try what?”
“It may seem odd to you, but I am going to see if I can project my mind into hers and help.”
“How do you know you can do that?”
“I don’t, but if I don’t try, I think she will be killed.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“Shut the door. Oh, and turn the television off and the lights.”
Casey switched the television off from the wall socket, then closed the door and flicked the light switch down. Shannon was now sitting on the bed with her legs folded. Casey fumbled her way over to the chair in the corner and sat down and waited.
“What now?” Casey asked.
“Shh.” Shannon replied, while she focused her mind.
A few seconds passed in the gloom of the room, with only the outside lighting illuminating them inside the room. Casey could see enough of Shannon to make out her silhouette, but not much else.
“I can see her. She is in a room, with...two men. One of them is Frank, the other one I cannot feel who he is.”
Casey did not reply, just watched, and listened.
“They are in the dark. I can feel her heart beating, and her blood is pumping hard through her body. She is scared.”
Casey watched as Shannon began to shudder on the bed. Then she was silent. A subtle glow was coming off her and seemed to drift out of her body. Then floated into the air and was suddenly gone.
“Shannon, Shannon.” Casey whispered.
She got up and went a little closer to her. She reached out and touched her arm, then withdrew her hand as she felt how cold Shannon was.
“Shannon.” Casey whispered again.
There was nothing. She sat back down thinking, had she really left her body? For now, it would seem like she had been able to project her mind or was it her soul that she had just seen leave her body!
––––––––
“Where are you going Sharon?” Frank said, as he watched her head outside.
“I won’t be long.” Sharon replied.
“Jonesy, stop her.”
Jonesy looked up from the box of weapons to see Sharon walk past him.
“You stay here little miss.”
“Sit down and be quiet. Frank, you tell Sharon that we will be home soon and that I know she is alive and looking for me.”
“Sharon? Is that you?”
“No Frank, it is Shannon. I will see you soon, now go to sleep Frank.”
Frank closed his eyes while Jonesy sat and watched. He could not be sure, but in the dim light of the candles, he was sure that the Sharon’s face was different, like it had been replaced with a ghost like shadow. It was still Sharon's face, but it has another face within it. She left the room, then Jonesy also closed his eyes and went to sleep.
Sharon drifted along the driveway as if she were floating on air. Liev was the first to spot her as she drifted past him in the dark. As she floated past, he too went to sleep. It was an instant sleep. One second, he was awake, the next, nothing. Liev fell to the floor, as Sharon continued down the driveway.
The two men that Woody had sent on ahead were creeping up the drive, trying to stay close to the hedges that ran alongside both sides of the narrow lane.
“What is that?”
They both looked up the drive, seeing Sharon drifting down towards them. They looked back at each other, stunned. Now both thinking a ghost was coming down the lane. One of the men pulled out his gun then aimed at Sharon, then pointed the gun the other way and let off a shot. It rang out into the night like a bolt of lightning. Woody and Tony had just got out the car and were waiting to walk up the lane.
“Looks like they found one of them.” Tony said.
“Quiet, listen to that.”
“What is that noise? It sounds like... Like they are in pain!”
“Come on. Let's go.”
They both began to cautiously walk up the pitch-black lane, listening as the noise was getting louder with each step they took.
––––––––
Sharon was now right next to the man holding the gun. Blood was coming out of his eyes, nose, and ears as she was slowly sucking out every piece of knowledge from his brain. He whimpered as the last of his mind gave way and his brain was now crushed. She let him fall to the floor, then continued down the drive.
––––––––
Woody and Tony could now see the strange figure floating towards them.
“Fuck me.” Tony said, as Sharon was floating towards them. “What is that? Woody, are you seeing this?”
He looked right to see Woody frozen to the spot.
“Woody.” Tony asked again and began to shake him. “Woody don’t do this. Come on mate, snap out of it.”
Tony looked up the lane again and could now see that Sharon was floating about a foot off the ground.
“WOODY, we need to go. Fuck this.” Tony said, as he grappled with Woody and started off back to the car.
He kept looking back at the strange women who had now stopped and was just watching him as he continued to wrestle Woody back to the car. Just as he got there, he took another look, but she had gone.
“Woody, snap out of it.”
Woody began to mumble something.
“What is going on? Where am I.”
“A bloody ghost has just chased us.”
“A what?”
“Look at your nose man, and your ears are pissing with blood.”
Woody felt his nose and then his ears.
“Get me out of here.”
“What about the others?”
“Fuck them, get me to a hospital. I don’t know what has just happened, just get me out of here.”
“What was she doing to you?”
“Sucking the bloody juice out of my brain.”
“You are not making sense.”
“Just get me the fuck out of here before she comes back.”
Tony and Woody got in the car, and they sped off. Woody not only had been lucky; he now also knew what he had to do.
––––––––
As Sharon floated back up to the drive, she began to drift back onto the floor and by the time she was back at the cottage she was walking on the ground and was herself again, confused, but with a new feeling inside her body. She had felt Shannon inside her and for the first time since she had been born, felt something so deep, it was like physical pain. She rushed inside and began to shake Frank awake.
––––––––
Casey had been watching Shannon closely. Shannon had been quiet and still but was now levitating about a foot off the bed. She still could not believe this was possible and wanted to desperately go and get Brian to show him what she was seeing but felt transfixed to the spot. As suddenly as is disappeared, the strange glowing mist appeared again in the room. Then like in reverse, it surrounded Shannon and was then gone. Shannon slowly lowered to the bed then opened her eyes.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, just tired.”
Casey got up and went to turn the light on.
“No, don’t.”
“Why? What is wrong?”
“It’s the gift, as you call it.”
Casey came over to her and sat on the bed. As she got closer, she could see Shannon's face. She had aged by at least ten years and had now lost that fresh look of a teenager and looked more like a grown woman in her late twenties.
“How long have you known?”
“About a year ago. If I use it, it ages me. That is why we are growing old so quickly.”
“Is it the same for Blake?”
“Yes, but he does not know.”
“Don’t you think he should know?”
“I have meant to tell him, but he is still so immature and will struggle to understand that we cannot use it, or we will not live for very long.”
“I am so sorry Shannon.” Casey said, as she hugged her.
“It is okay. I did find out some new things.”
“Really?” Casey said, as she drew away from Shannon.
“It is a man called Greg Bourneski who wants to take us away. He is looking for us and will kill everyone involved once he has us.”
“Does he know where we are?”
“No, but he will find us unless...”
“You cannot us it anymore. Look how much you have aged.”
“I know you mean well. But I do not have a choice. If I do not stop him, he will continue, especially as he...”
“He has what?”
“Ronald took something from me.”
“Did he... do something to you!”
“Sex! No. He took my ovaries.”
“Oh god no.”
“Even if I could have had children. I know I cannot now. He took everything from me. Now do you see why I have to finish this.”
Casey hugged Shannon again, as they both wept. She could not begin to image what Shannon was feeling, but she knew why she would want to hurt all of them, because she too felt the same. This madness had to be stopped and now that they had the means to continue, with or without these two.
––––––––
Brian suddenly opened the door. His timing was as impeccable as ever. He flicked the light switch on and was stunned at the new, older Shannon. Casey waved her hand for him to leave, and Brian looked on, frozen at the sight of Shannon. She had suddenly blossomed into this beautiful woman from nowhere. What had happened since he had fallen asleep, he had no idea, but before he could leave the room, Blake was also at the door.
Casey suddenly was flung into the air by invisible hands and was being pinned up against the wall and being chocked.
“What have you done to my sister you bitch.” Blake shouted from the doorway.
“Blake no.” Shannon said, into his mind.
“She is putting a wedge between us and poisoning you against me.”
Shannon got off the bed and stood in front of him.
“No, she is helping me. Now let her go.”
Suddenly, Casey slumped to the floor, then Brain went to her and began helping her back up as she struggled to breathe again. Blake stormed out, just as Billy was about to make a run for it after he heard what had been going on. Suddenly, he was flung in the air and came crashing down onto the floor. His forearm now protruding out of his skin where it had been snapped. Blake rushed out of the room and ran off. Brian rushed into the room and found Billy screaming on the floor, holding his arm.
“Casey, we need to leave.” He shouted to her, after seeing the bone sticking out of Billy's arm.
Casey still gasping for air, appeared in the doorway, then came and crouched next to Brian.
“We need to leave. These two are dangerous. We cannot control them, and Billy needs to go to the hospital. Look what they have done to his arm.”
“It was an accident.” Casey said, as Billy was nearing the passing out stage.
“I am going to be sick.” Billy said, then right on cue, vomited to his left, then passed out.
“Get him up. We will drop him off at the nearest hospital, then take Shannon to wherever she wants to go. Then we leave them.”
Casey never replied and just got up. Shannon was now at the doorway and looked down at them, then went to find her brother.
“Do you see what you have done now. She thinks we don’t want to help them.”
“I don’t, and you had better not either. They are out of control. What next? Me, you!”
“Don’t be stupid. They know we are helping them.”
“This is not helping anyone. Look what they can do. You cannot control them Casey, however much you think you are helping.”
“Brian, just get Billy in the van.”
Casey got up and went to find them both before any of the noise they had been making was heard by the other guests in the hotel. The Police arriving would not be the best idea right now and Casey just wanted to get back on the road and away from here.
––––––––
Sharon turned the lights back on and went over to Frank who was flopped to one side, still asleep.
“Frank, Frank, get up.”
Franks head began to raise up and his eyes opened.
“What the hell. Did I just fall asleep?”
“That does not matter. Shannon has come to me. She is on her way to find us.”
“How do you know all this?”
“I cannot explain it, but she wants to see me.”
“You mean us.”
“Yes, yes of course, us. We have twins Frank. I gave birth to twins. They lied to us and said it was a parasite. His name is Blake, and both are growing so fast. It will be so nice to see them again.”
“Are you okay Sharon? You sound different.”
“I am feeling amazing. Wee.” Sharon said, as she did a twirl round the kitchen.
Jonesy began to come around and watched the strange scene of Sharon spinning round like a child.
“Err, is she okay Frank? She looks high.”
“I don’t know. I have just woken up, and she is acting weird.”
“What has just happened? Were we drugged?”
“I don’t know, but right now can you stop her spinning, or I am going to be sick.” Frank said, as Sharon continued to spin round.
Jonesy got up and grabbed hold of Sharon, then looked into her eyes.
“What the hell has she taken Frank? Her eyes are lit up like fireworks and I think she is tripping out on something.”
––––––––
Liev got to his feet, still not sure how he got down on the floor, but he did remember Sharon floating by before he passed out. He walked a little way down the lane and could now see the two bodies on the floor. He did not need to be told they were dead but went over to see what had happened to them.
As he approached, he could see the dark blood surrounding one of the man's head, as it looked like black tar in the dark. Liev crouched down and looked harder at where the blood had come from and could now see it had poured out of this guy’s nose, eyes, and ears. How they hell had that happened he thought, not seeing an injury of any kind. He pushed the guy's head to one side, then the other. Nothing, no injury, wound or bullet hole. Liev got up and looked down at the other man and could see the entry point of the bullet in the side of his temple. This was clear to even an idiot how he died, but the other guy was plain weird. He walked off back up to the cottage with no other signs that anyone was around.
As Liev got to twenty yards away, he could see the lights were on and what sounded like someone who was screaming with laughter. Being cautious, he looked through the kitchen window. He shook his head not believing what he saw. Jonesy was trying to hold Sharon down in a chair while she was just laughing at him. He rushed inside. Frank was just staring at Sharon while Jonesy was trying to calm her down.
“What is going on?”
“She has lost it Liev. Gone loopy or something man.”
“Shut her up Jonesy.”
“How?”
Liev looked at him sideways. Jonesy knew that look, then turned and took a swing at Sharon. He hit her just below her jaw to give her a glancing blow. Frank was about to get up when Liev gave him a look to say, stay put, but even Frank could see something had to be done. Sharon’s head jolted, then flopped to one side and now the kitchen fell silent.
“What happened?”
“She was saying she was visited by Shannon. Then this.”
“Was that it?”
“Yeah. What happened outside?” Jonesy asked.
“Beats me, but there are two dead guys on the lane down there. One has been shot, the other is just a mess. Blood oozing out of his head, with no injuries.”
“This is messed up Liev. We need to go.”
“Are you okay to move Frank?”
“Yes, just feeling a bit sick.”
“We need to get your hand seen to Frank.”
“I am fine. Is there anywhere you have in mind where we could go?” Liev asked Frank. “Jonesy?” Liev said, now looking at him.
“Yeah, I know a place we can hideout for a day or two.”
“Let’s get moving. I don’t know about you, but this place just gives me the creeps.” Frank said, as he got up and began helping Sharon to her feet.
––––––––
After a few miles after speeding away from the cottage, Woody felt his stomach begin to growl.
“Pull over.” Wood said to Tony.
“What? I thought you wanted to go to the hospital.”
“Pull over, now.” Woody said, as his mouth began to fill with vomit.
Tony pulled up on the verge just outside of town, then Woody leant out the window and began to puke. After a few more stomach cramps, Woody pulled his head back into the car.
“You look like shit Woody. We really need to get you to a hospital.”
“No. I am fine. I have a new plan.”
“We are not going back there, are we?”
“No. I am going to kill Grecco.”
“Now I know you need hospital treatment.”
“I am being serious.”
“Woody, do you know what he would do to you if he knew you were saying that!”
“I have had enough of his shit Tony. Besides, we do not have what he wants, so he is going to kill me anyway. So, I am going down fighting.”
“You are insane. Why don’t we just go there when it is light?”
“It’s too late for that now.”
“Where is all this coming from? If you ask me, that ghost, or what it was, has scrambled your brain.”
“No, that is where you are wrong. It has made me think more clearly. Grecco needs to go, and I am going to be the one to do it.”
Tony suddenly looked past Woody like he had seen another ghost. Woody turned his head to look out the window. They had both been so engrossed in talking, they had not seen the Police car pull up.
“Shit.” Is all Woody said, before the window in the Patrol began to open and Officer Parks was looking straight at him?
Woody wound his window down.
“Hello boys. It’s a bit late... Is that you Woody?”
“Yep, me in the flesh.”
Officer Parks leant over and peered at Tony.
“And I see your partner in crime is with you. Hello Tony Bagwash. Long-time no see. What has it been? Two years now since I last arrested you. And Woody, have you been in a fight this evening?”
“This blood is just tomato sauce. Got a bit carried away squirting the damn bottle.”
“Yeah, yeah. You two know the routine. Out the car and hand, me those keys.”
Tony passed the keys over, giving Woody a knowing look. They both got out the car as Officer Parks and Officer Wilson also got out the patrol car.
“Hands behind your backs. No offence Woody, this is just a precaution while we search you and the car.”
Woody did not reply. Just held his arms round his back and was cuffed. Officer Parks began to pat him down and soon found the gun in his side pocket, as did Officer Wilson did with Tony.
“I see you went out packing today. Wilson, get on the radio and see of there have been any armed incidents tonight. I think you two are coming with us back to the station. Do you have anything to say before you are arrested?”
“Yeah, go fuck yourselves.”
“Nothing changes with you, does it Woody?”
Officer Parks read them both their rights, then they were both put in the back of the patrol car, while Wilson and Parks searched the car.
“Lucky we didn’t have that gear in there Woody.”
“Lucky, we are up for a five stretch you prat. How is that lucky?”
“Could be ten years if they found the gear!”
“Yeah, I guess. I will get onto our man once we get our phone call. I am going for it Tony. That Bastard Grecco is mine.”
––––––––
Casey was outside the hotel looking for Shannon. She did not have far to walk, as she was sat on the curb of the car park next to the van. She had her arm round Blake and was talking to him. Casey walked over and sat next to Blake.
“You can talk then?”
Blake turned and smiled at her.
“Is he okay?”
“He will be fine. A broken arm and probably the worst fright of his life.”
“I couldn’t control myself. I was so angry.”
“I know. We are all learning something new about ourselves and it can be frightening, but you must believe me. I really do want to help you two.”
Blake looked down at the floor as a few teardrops began to roll down his cheek.
“We are going to die. Aren't we?”
“No. You just need to learn to control your gifts.”
“Shannon just told me how it ages us. What happens if we cannot control it? I sometimes feel I want to destroy everyone.”
“Look at me Blake.” Casey said, as she lifted his head to point it at her.
“We can work on that. It is all a matter of control. People have been doing it for as long as humans have been around. Meditation and some simple mind exercise, and I am sure you will be able to master those demons.”
Blake smiled again. He knew he had messed up and now that Shannon had told him what happens to them if they use their gifts, he had to control it.
“What are we going to do?”
“We are taking Billy to a hospital, then we are going to find your parents. Sharon loves you both.”
“But what if she hates us, once she knows we are freaks.”
“Is that what you really think you are?”
“Yes.”
“Let me tell you something. I have seen some terrible things in this world, but you two have something so special, it is a gift. You must believe me when I say this, because until you accept it, you will never have control over it. Do you understand me. You are a gift.”
Blake smiled again and looked down at the floor. He did not believe Casey and knew once they were found again, they would be locked away like animals.
“I am just going to help Brian get Billy in the van. Then we can go.”
Shannon looked up at Casey as she stood up.
“Thank you.”
Casey smiled, then went over to Brian who was struggling to keep Billy upright. A few minutes later, they all got in the van, but this time Casey got in the front. Shannon had asked her to leave them alone to talk. Brian headed back onto the motorway and began to head south. They would have to get off soon and head for a hospital, but with Casey sat next to him now, they also had a chance to talk alone.
––––––––
Liev and Jonesy carried Sharon into the back of the Volvo, then Frank got in next to her while Jonesy got in the driver’s seat. They had not found anything worth taking to use from the box of decommissioned weapons. Just as they pulled away in the car, Frank lifted the package they he had kicked under the seat.
“Does this belong to you guys?” He said, as he waved the package in front of them.
“Bloody hell Frank, where did you get that?”
“It was under the seat.”
“Well dump it out the bloody window. The last thing we need is to get pulled with a kilo of that shit.”
“It’s worth quite a few grand!”
“Just dump it.” Liev said.
Frank threw the package out the window and watched as it hit the ground, then split open and a cloud of white smoke wafted in the air.
“Where are we heading?” Frank asked.
“A lock-up I us to keep my gear in.” Jonesy replied.
“Do you still have all that gear?” Liev asked.
“Most of it. I flogged the older stuff to offload it.”
“Is it far?”
“Nah, opposite the last place.”
“What, you moved opposite to where you were?”
“Well yeah. I had to, but my mate there told me they had spaces across the road, so I thought, why not.”
“You plonker Jonesy.”
“Why?”
“Nothing. Just keep to the speed limits. The old bill is usually out and about at this time of night. We must try to not look suspicious. Especially with those two in the back!” Liev said, as he took a glance at Frank and his wife, who were now slumped to one side.